Chapter 84

Chapter 84

All animals, including humans, freeze up and are unable to take any action when they witness a scene they cannot comprehend.

This is natural. To see something and respond to it, that something must either be something you know or something you’ve learned about. How many people could instantly determine what to do when the continent they’re standing on splits in half?

Scenes you can’t imagine freeze people. This applies to everyone regardless of gender, age, strength or weakness. You can’t escape this truth as long as you’re capable of thought.

And perhaps because of that.

“…….”

The spectators who came to watch the Grand Competition were all keeping silent at the scene unfolding before their eyes.

“What just happened?”

“I, I think Mujeong Hall won.”

The spectators murmured as they watched the fading image, unable to properly understand the situation. Both those who had been cheering for Mujeong Hall and those who had been cheering for Muryeon Hall showed the same reaction.

It was a completely natural scene. No one would have thought that Muryeon Hall would defeat Mujeong Hall and then forfeit without stopping there.

“What is this…….”

“Didn’t Muryeon Hall win?”

The spectators let out groans and blinked their eyes in bewilderment. The noise of the crowd gradually grew louder.

‘It’s over.’

Hearing that sound, Ouyang Jeok quietly exhaled.

“What are you doing?”

“Pardon?”

“Hurry and check the condition of the Hall disciples. Can’t you see that the gate has ended?”

“Yes…… Yes!”

At his words, Ouyang Jeok bit his lips as he watched the martial artists frantically rush down to the training ground where the Illusion Formation was being deactivated. The sight of Baek Riyun looking at him from far away.

‘I thought it didn’t make sense.’

Baek Riyun is clever.

From the records of the past gate and his time as Changcheon Corps Commander, Ouyang Jeok had guessed this fact. The man called Baek Riyun has a better mind than anyone else and outstanding ability to read the political situation.

He was the Baek Riyun who had obtained independent operational authority despite committing numerous acts of insubordination. That Baek Riyun was behind Muryeon Hall, and every single action of the Muryeon Hall disciples moved according to Baek Riyun’s methods.

That’s why he thought that even if there was a possibility of winning, they wouldn’t bother to win. Because he thought that if it were Baek Riyun, he couldn’t possibly be unaware of the disadvantages the Muryeon Hall disciples would face if Muryeon Hall won. Because he thought he couldn’t bear to watch the Muryeon Hall disciples become traitors to the Orthodox Path.

However.

What about now?

‘Muryeon Hall won.’

Muryeon Hall’s flag was broken. Therefore, officially, it’s Mujeong Hall’s victory?

That doesn’t matter at all. The spectators aren’t blind, after all.

Everyone witnessed that Muryeon Hall chose defeat despite being able to achieve victory. Everyone knows that they decided to lose for the greater good despite being able to win.

In this situation, who could condemn the Muryeon Hall disciples? The spectators who had been crying out for Mujeong Hall’s victory to prevent war? Or the righteous chivalrous warriors who had been loudly proclaiming Muryeon Hall’s victory so that the banner of the Orthodox Path wouldn’t fall to the ground?

No one can condemn the Muryeon Hall disciples. No, rather they would praise, respect, and show reverence.

And what that means is just one thing.

‘At this very moment…… the entire Orthodox Martial World has become allies of the Muryeon Hall disciples.’

It’s a strategy so meticulous and terrifying it gives you chills.

Ouyang Jeok’s body flinched at the clearly drawn future situation, and he raised his head again at the gaze he felt. The Muryeon Hall disciples who had already formed ranks and were waiting for his declaration, and the spectators in the audience seats.

‘……Only I will suffer the loss.’

Ouyang Jeok let out a deep sigh inwardly and smiled bitterly. If he declared Mujeong Hall’s victory when anyone could see it was Muryeon Hall’s victory, the backlash would naturally be directed at him.

But the regulations are such. The side whose flag breaks loses—that’s the regulation, so it can’t be changed now. And.

‘Though receiving backlash is regrettable.’

The sprouts of the Murim Alliance have worked this hard without yielding even when the leadership, tainted by profit and reality, had no choice but to turn away from them. Then as their senior, it would be right to push their backs.

“This gate of the Grand Competition. Victory goes to…….”

He must declare it. That Mujeong Hall is victorious.

Ouyang Jeok, having steeled his resolve, opened his mouth to raise his voice and declare the victor. And.

“Mujeong Hall’s victory…….”

Soon after, just before Ouyang Jeok’s declaration fell.

“Wait.”

“……!”

A quiet but overwhelming presence pressed down on Ouyang Jeok.

“Alliance……Leader. What is the meaning of this……!”

His eyes widened at the presence pressing down on his entire body, and Ouyang Jeok barely managed to squeeze out his voice in protest. However, ignoring him, the Sado Alliance Leader rose from the audience seats and walked step by step onto the platform where Ouyang Jeok was standing.

“That declaration needs to be postponed for a bit.”

“……Heuueok! Heueok!”

The moment he stood in front, the presence disappeared, and Ouyang Jeok breathed roughly and looked up at the Sado Alliance Leader standing before him.

“The victory and defeat have already been decided……! Even if you press down with force like this!”

“The victory and defeat are decided…… I see. It seems the Orthodox Path people find this victory and defeat acceptable.”

“…….”

“Making your own children choose defeat on their own because of their parents’ circumstances even though they could win—is that the famous spirit of Orthodox Path people? How very practical. I like it.”

Everyone fell silent at the sight of the Sado Alliance Leader looking around with a broad smile. Just as the Sado Alliance Leader said, it was true that there were those who had pressured the Muryeon Hall disciples.

It wasn’t just at the level of there being those who pressured them. The Murim Alliance and the Nine Sects and One Gang. In addition, many elders of the martial world had wished for the defeat of the Muryeon Hall disciples. Even if they hadn’t directly voiced pressure, who here couldn’t imagine the pressure the Muryeon Hall disciples must have felt in this place?

Shameful.

Most of the spectators who bowed their heads before the boldly stepping forward Sado Alliance Leader thought so. The senior martial artists who couldn’t even protect their own juniors, the martial artists who abandoned their principles blinded by practicality, and even those who directly poured pressure on the Muryeon Hall disciples.

“Do you have nothing to say?”

Silence enveloped the spectators. No one could answer the Sado Alliance Leader’s words. At least, no one qualified to answer these words existed in this place.

“If it’s something to say, I have plenty.”

Except for one person.

“What’s your name?”

“It’s Baek Riyun.”

At the sight of Baek Riyun slowly rising from the audience seats and looking directly at him, the Sado Alliance Leader wore a faint smile. A face whose thoughts couldn’t be read.

“Baek Riyun. I think I’ve heard of it. Was it that you’re in charge of Muryeon Hall’s training?”

“That’s correct.”

“Absolutely splendid. Both the strategy and the method of bringing out individual abilities were excellent. To the point where I’d really like to learn about your teaching methods.”

“I’m grateful that you think highly of my abilities. But it’s because the children followed well. It’s not entirely my ability.”

Looking at Baek Riyun calmly receiving his words, the Sado Alliance Leader who had been grinning shrugged his shoulders. The question that followed immediately after.

“I see. So what is it you have to say?”

Bold. Yet dignified.

Everyone’s eyes were drawn to Baek Riyun’s mouth at his appearance of not shrinking back even with the peak of the Unorthodox Path before his eyes. Hoping that from the mouth of this immensely capable yet still young martial artist would come words that the value of the Orthodox Path had not fallen.

However.

“Don’t deceive us.”

At the words that followed.

“What did you just say?”

“If you didn’t understand, I’ll say it once more.”

The eyes of everyone watching this scene widened to the point they couldn’t get any wider.

“I’m saying stop this ridiculous farce. Lord of Ten Thousand.”

***

People in positions of responsibility shouldn’t easily be swept up by emotions.

This is what I heard when I was still the Young Family Head of the Baek Ri Family and my grandfather, the previous Family Head of the Baek Ri Family, was still alive.

When several people walk on a narrow path, those behind look at the backs of those in front as they walk.

That means, in other words, if the person in front falls into a quagmire, the people behind can fall into the quagmire as well.

Therefore, the person in front must examine the front and sides more firmly than anyone else, and must walk while considering those following behind.

Just before he passed away, my grandfather said that.

“Stop the farce. Lord of Ten Thousand.”

And right now at this moment, I was recalling that advice more clearly than at any other time.

“……Farce?”

A moment of silence.

The Sado Alliance Leader, who had been reflecting on what I said, tilted his head as if he didn’t understand, then brought his hand to his chin. And the low voice that flowed out.

“Farce, farce? You’re saying what I’m doing now is a farce. Did I understand correctly?”

“That’s correct.”

“What’s your reason for thinking so?”

“Wasn’t it the Lord of Ten Thousand himself who created this entire situation?”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb. This was already predetermined from the beginning.”

Testing each other’s judgment on who would win in the Grand Competition?

The words sound grand. At first glance, it even looks like just the Sado Alliance Leader’s eccentric behavior of enjoying a wager out of interest. But what if you dig into the depths of it?

“There’s something called color contrast. Even with the same color, it looks darker when placed with black, and conversely looks brighter when placed with white. This is no different for people.”

From the Orthodox Path’s perspective, the Muryeon Hall disciples receiving the Unorthodox Path’s support would have looked closer to the Unorthodox Path despite being Orthodox Path. Even though in reality the Muryeon Hall disciples had done nothing wrong.

“Just for the one reason that the Alliance Leader supports the Muryeon Hall disciples, people will look at the children wearing colored glasses. And the Alliance Leader couldn’t have failed to guess this fact. No, rather you intended it.”

“I intended this situation. For what purpose?”

Watching the Sado Alliance Leader who seemed genuinely delighted as he listened to my words and grinned, I caught my breath. The rising sense of pressure and the presence pressing down on my shoulders.

The appearance of the Sado Alliance Leader crossing his arms and looking at me as if to say, go ahead and try speaking, looms large. A fighting spirit I’ve never felt before presses down on my entire body. It feels like a giant the size of a house is trying to trample me with its foot.

But it’s okay.

Though heavy like Mount Tai, squeezing my heart, and a presence that could press down on all the spectators here alone.

“To prepare for the next ten years.”

To make my mouth shut.

It’s a bit light.

“Whatever schemes you devise doesn’t matter. Devising schemes against each other is the same for both the Murim Alliance and the Sado Alliance. However, don’t step on the growing sprouts. As fellow people who eat from the same profession, we should be able to show each other at least that much generosity, shouldn’t we?”

“To summarize, you’re telling me to leave alone sprouts that will become threats in the future?”

“That’s correct.”

“And if I can’t do that?”

“If you can’t do that…….”

At the sight of the Sado Alliance Leader answering with a faint smile, I slowly brought my fingers to the sword hilt at my waist. The chillingly cold sensation of the sword rising coolly through my fingertips.

“You’ll face great trouble.”

“Trouble, how very interesting. For what reason?”

“Because I don’t forgive those who touch my disciples.”

Silence.

A stillness like time had stopped descended on all sides. The spectators and soldiers looking at me as if they had no idea what I was talking about.

And shortly after.

“Heuha. Heuhahaha! Hahahaha! This is driving me crazy. Because you won’t forgive me, I should give up my intentions?”

Breaking the silence, the Sado Alliance Leader burst into laughter until he was out of breath, then straightened his posture and looked at me. At the same time, his mouth opened.

“You.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll give you the position of Sado Alliance Martial Force Corps’ Grand Commander.”

“……What are you saying?”

“Don’t you understand what I’m saying?”

The Sado Alliance Leader who smirked looked directly into my eyes.

“I’m asking if you have any thoughts of joining the Sado Alliance.”